Medicaid provides important health coverage for many Nebraskans, and we know that our communities are stronger when all Nebraskans have access to quality, affordable health care. Over 390,000 Nebraskans have been relying on Medicaid coverage for their health needs during the pandemic, and upcoming changes could cause tens of thousands of Nebraskans to lose Medicaid coverage.
Medicaid Renewals are Coming
Since March 2020, federal law has generally required states to keep most people with Medicaid enrolled in coverage regardless of changes – like a change in income – due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal law recently changed, and now, enrollees who no longer qualify for Medicaid or who do not complete their renewal may be terminated from coverage as soon as April 2023.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will start evaluating whether Medicaid enrollees are eligible to continue to receive Medicaid coverage in March 2023. DHHS is generally required to complete a full renewal of a Medicaid enrollee’s case before terminating Medicaid coverage. During this process, DHHS will be sending notices to current Medicaid enrollees and may be requesting information or explaining changes in coverage.
Who may be impacted?
Changes in health coverage can be difficult for everyone. The re-started renewal process may disproportionately affect the same people who have always faced systemic barriers to health coverage and care, and further exacerbate health disparities.
Estimates are that 40,000-80,000 Nebraskans will no longer qualify for their Medicaid coverage. According to the Nebraska Medicaid Maintenance of Eligibility (MOE) Unwinding Operational Plan, DHHS has identified 145,000 Nebraskans since March 2020 that may be at risk of losing their coverage – this highlights that many more Nebraskans are at risk of losing their coverage, even if they are still eligible for Medicaid.
Folks who have the following situations may need to pay extra attention to their Medicaid coverage:
- Anyone who has moved, changed their phone number, or changed their email address may miss important notices from DHHS if their contact information is not up-to-date. Update your information today!
- Anyone whose income has changed since March 2020.
- Anyone who qualified for Medicaid as a pregnant person but is no longer pregnant.
- Anyone who qualified for Medicaid as a child but is over the age of 18.
- Anyone who qualified for Medicaid as a parent/caretaker who no longer has children under 18 or 19.
- Anyone who qualified for Medicaid as a former foster youth but is over the age of 25.
- Anyone now on Medicare.
- Anyone whose first language is not English or who has other accessibility needs.
The most important step Medicaid enrollees can take right now is to update their contact information with DHHS by phone at (855) 632-7633 or online at ACCESSNebraska.org. Enrollees can also check their coverage status and find their renewal month at the same phone number and website.
To learn more about what Medicaid enrollees can do to prepare for these upcoming changes and to find helpful resources, visit Appleseed’s preparing for renewals website and fact sheet.